Despite concerns, the House voted to impeach without legal representation for the president of having all evidence. Many Republican Senators are wary about moving forward with the Senate trial.
The Senate trial is scheduled to begin on the week of Feb. 8. Two-thirds of the Senate, or 67 senators, would need to vote to convict Trump to be successful. That means 17 GOP senators would need to come to the Democrats’ side.
Sources told ABC News, “There will be another round of additions to the team in the coming days though the process is nowhere near finalized with just over a week to go.” Many attorneys who worked with or represented Trump during the last impeachment trial are declining to defend him in the Senate.
Even with all this chaos, it is likely that former President Trump will dodge conviction. Due to needing 17 Republican votes for conviction, a formal censure is an alternative option.
A censure would be less severe than expulsion but is a formal statement of disapproval. It would still require 10 Republicans to vote with Democrats.
